Taming The Wild CEO novel Chapter 30

C H A P T E R 2 8 : H I S J E A L O U S Y

E L L A S T A N F O R D

Giving him a little smile, she discreetly moved his hand back to his lap. “None, unfortunately. I do not have any.”

“No way, I do not believe that.” He narrowed his eyes, giving it a thought, then his lips formed a mischiveous smile. “How about modeling? Could you strike a pose?”

“Not really though,” Ella giggled as she suddenly remembered what Damon had always made her do whenever they had done shopping. “My friend, Damon, he always asks me to try out the clothes we bought and pose.”

“Then I am sure he sees your talent there.” His green eyes danced. “Are you free tomorrow?”

Ella glanced at Javier for one split second before answering, “I am sorry but my schedule depends on my boss.”

“Would you come over and pose for me? I will put your beauty into canvas,” promised Roberto with a smile. “What do you say?”

“I am afraid I have to say no.”

“Oh, come on.” He turned to Javier. “Can I borrow her for a few hours tomorrow?”

Javier shrugged and then took a drink of his red wine. “That is really up to Miss Stanford. I have business in town tomorrow and she does not have to come along.”

“See, Ella,” Roberto gave her one of his dazzling smiles that had no doubt captured dozens of female hearts and yet all Ella could see was something predatory which made her even more afraid. “Your boss allows it.”

“No, I really can not. I have other paperworks I need to tackle and I can not possibly let my boss go alone.”

Roberto laughed delightedly. “Alright. Maybe next time.” He looked at her through those dark flashes. “I like you too, darling. And it has been a while since a female said no to me.”

“Well, I am sorry to be one of those who said no. But really though, what makes you want to paint?” she asked, rising as they moved back to the long lounge to drink their coffee. The wine had made her faintly muzzy and the air seemed stuffy and hot. She felt a strong inclination to lie back against the cushions of the couch and drowsily close her eyes. Accepting black coffee, she sipped it in the hope that it would help her to stay awake.

After talking long enough about his attempt in paintings, Roberto insisted on getting one of his msterpiece in order to show her what she missed by refusing his offer earlier.

As soon as he was gone, she was alone with Javier again and finally could relax. Ella leaned back thankfully, her lids drooping.

“Enjoying yourself?” Javier asked her mockingly.

Forcing her eyes open, she looked at him dazedly. “Very much. Thank you,” she murmured.

“Would you like me to leave?” he asked bitingly.

She stared. “What?”

“I am sure Ella would enjoy that,” said Javier in sardonic tone before she could say anything. “We will see how it goes tomorrow.”

Roberto cheered up, his wide mouth curving. “Alright,” he said. He walked with them to the door, halting Ella as he stood aside to let Javier move outside. Into her ear, he said softly, “Be honest with me, darling. Are you his?”

His blunt question caused her to flush terribly. “No!” Her voice was sharp.

“Alright,” he said again, with satisfaction “I got an idea that you might be.”

She said goodnight and joined her boss. Roberto waved as the car moved off down the drive, then the gates smoothly swung, open and they spun out into the road. Javier drove in total silence, his profile unreadable in the dark interior of the car. Ella felt oddly nervous. Somehow she expected some barbed remarks. His attitude all evening had been puzzlingly difficult to read. He had asked her to be nice to Roberto, yet he had sniped at her all the time whenever he spoke to her. Could he be sexually jealous? Yet if he resented to whenever she was friendly to another man. This made her angry as he had no right to be jealous. Despite what Roberto had said, she did not belong to anyone and certainly she did not belong to him.

When they arrived at the hotel sin-blinked as her eyes became accustomed to the bright lights, following him to the desk to collect their keys. The terse silence persisted as they went upstairs in the lift and he walked past her to his own room without even saying goodnight. Angrily she let herself into her room and went straight into the bathroom. Bolting the door on his side, she stripped and showered, then changed into her brief black laced nightgown.

Her room was so stuffy that she opened the french windows. Drawn by the cool air and the illuminated promenade she moved out on to the balcony and leaned on the “rail,, breathing in the fresh night fragrance. her head was still heavy after all that wine. She stared at the dark sea, remembering the raft swinging gently under her shoulders as Javier forced her to admit her own need for his lovemaking. She closed her eyes, groaning soundlessly.

When she went back to Washington, she had to talk to HR department. She had to leave soon. She could not wait for another two and a half months. She had to get away from him. The effect he had on her was disastrous and overwhelming. If she stayed within his ambiance one day he might succeed in persuading her to drift into an affair with him. She no longer trusted her own strength of mind where he was concerned. She had been sure she could resist him, but it had been the confidence of folly. She was so involved in her thoughts that she did not hear the movements behind her until Javier was merely a few feet away.

She turned around and stiffened. He had just finisheed showering, his dark hair was damp. He wore a short white towelling dressing gown, and beneath it his legs were bare. His piercing baby blues moved probingly over her. She had not even thought to put on a bathrobe, since she had intended to go to bed until drawn out by the wine-sweet air of the night. The thin lace of her nightgown fluttered in the wind, revealing the thin side slits which ran from the hem to the hip. Shivering, more from his inspection than from the wind, she said, “It is getting late. I think I will go and get some sleep.”

Javier moved into her path silently as she moved to go inside. The brooding darkness of his eyes transfixed her like a moth fascinated by fire. She fought in her mind to escape him, but her body was swept by sensations against which she had fought for too long. With the rush of a bursting dam, the flood of desire drowned her mind. Past concealment, evasion, rejection, she waited helplessly as he lowered his face towards her. “You have no idea how I have been waiting all evening for this,” he said harshly, his mouth closing over her lips.